Report | Sheffield Wednesday 1 Swansea City 1
Jamal Lowe struck a late equaliser to secure Swansea City a point against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The Swans had trailed in south Yorkshire to Bailey Cadamarteri’s close-range effort, which gave the Owls the interval lead.
But Luke Williams’ side were improved after the break and claimed a share of the spoils when Lowe was on hand to fire home his eighth goal of the season with 14 minutes to go, after a header from a corner had dropped to him in the area.
It means Swansea have now lost just one of their last six Championship fixtures, taking 11 points from that run and, while they were not at their best, they again showed the resilience to stay in the game and come away with something to show for their efforts.
The Swans had shown two changes from the south Wales derby victory over Cardiff City, with Josh Key making his first start since December in place of the injured Kyle Naughton.
Jay Fulton, meanwhile, made his 250th Swansea City appearance as he came in for Joe Allen in midfield, with young winger Aimar Govea was named among the substitutes as he featured in a senior matchday squad for the first time.
Williams had spoken of the need for the Swans to start with intensity, but they nearly trailed inside two minutes as Ike Ugbo headed wide with the visitors guilty of failing to fully clear a ball into their box.
Swansea began to settle, dominating possession against an Owls side who were happy to sit off and try and counter.
The visitors were having particularly joy down the left, and Przemysław Płacheta forced Wednesday keeper James Beadle to parry his stinging drive from the left edge of the area.
Beadle later tipped away a looping Liam Cullen header from Key’s cross, but the effort would not have counted as the Swansea striker was adjudged to fouled his marker.
Carl Rushworth then took no chances as he tipped a flick on from a long throw over his bar as the ball dropped awkwardly.
It was the Owls who had the best chance of the opening half as, after winning the ball high up the field following a counter-attack, the ball was pulled back to Will Vaulks in acres of space, but the midfielder dragged his shot wastefully wide of the target.
But the home side did take the lead a few moments later when Cadamarteri was on hand to finish at the far post after a free-kick delivery had been flicked on in the middle.
Williams sent on Jamal Lowe in place of Płacheta at the break as he sought an improvement.
The Jamaica international was immediately involved as his cross was cushioned down by Cullen to Fulton.
The midfielder got away a firm low shot, but it was blocked and the ricochet just would not fall for a Swansea shirt.
Jamie Paterson then saw his volley saved by Beadle after Josh Tymon’s cross was only half-cleared, with the midfielder then seeing a strike deflected wide a few moments later.
Captain Matt Grimes was also off-target when he met a corner on the volley at the far post, before the Swans needed Rushworth to make a big save as he got down quickly to get a firm hand to Djeidi Gassama’s low left-footed effort for the visitors to clear.
Ugbo was the next Owls player to be unable to convert as he rolled the ball just wide of the far post after being slipped in on goal.
Williams sent on Jerry Yates, Allen and Govea – the latter for his senior debut – with just over 20 minutes to go.
Anthony Musaba rattled the bar as the Owls looked to put the game to bed, and Swansea made the most of the miss as they went up the other end and levelled through Lowe.
The forward was in the right place as Harry Darling’s header from a Tymon corner fell for him in the box, and he composed himself to sweep the ball into the net.
There was still time for Pol Valentin to send an effort wide as the home side sought a winner, and Rushworth made two fine saves from defected shots, as it ended all-square.
Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key (Joe Allen 68), Jay Fulton, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jamie Paterson (Aimar Govea 68), Josh Tymon, Przemysław Płacheta (Jamal Lowe 46), Liam Cullen (Jerry Yates 64), Nathan Wood, Ronald (Charlie Patino 82).
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Ollie Cooper, Azeem Abdulai, Filip Lissah.
Sheffield Wednesday: James Beadle, Liam Palmer (captain) (Dominic Iorfa 70), Will Vaulks, Ike Ugbo (Michae Smith 79), Pol Valentin, Di'Shon Bernard, Marvin Johnson, Michael Ihiekwe, Akin Famewo (Barry Bannan 70), Bailey Cadamarteri (Djeidi Gassama 57), Anthony Musaba (Mallik Wilks 79).
Unused Substitutes: Cameron Dawson, Jeff Hendrick, Reece James.
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Attendance: 28, 301